4.3. Software Installation and Configuration

The basic installation of the SQL Server and other Microsoft components is straightforward and well documented in Books Online. We won't discuss the installation experience here. Instead, we'll describe which pieces of software need to be installed on different developers' workstations, depending on what part of the DW/BI Project they're working on. Next, we'll describe some best practices for the initial configuration of the various SQL Server components, including the relational database, Analysis Services, Integration Services, and Reporting Services.

Most multi-person development teams share one or two database servers, and install only the development tools on their personal machines. A common development team configuration is illustrated in Figure 4.6.

Depending on their roles, different members of the development team will need to install different components of SQL Server, and some will need to install other Microsoft and third-party software. These requirements are outlined in the next section.

4.3.1. Development Environment Software Requirements

The following section outlines the software to be installed on the development database server, and the workstations for different common development roles.

Figure 4.6. A common development team configuration

HOW POWERFUL SHOULD DEVELOPMENT AND TEST SYSTEMS BE?

In a perfect world, ...

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